Desperate to survive drop (4-5)
I believe the answer is:
last-ditch
'desperate' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'survive drop' is the wordplay.
'survive' becomes 'last' (synonyms).
'drop' becomes 'ditch' (both can mean to get rid of).
'last'+'ditch'='LAST-DITCH'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for last-ditch that I've seen before include "Of an attempt or stand, final and desperate" , "Stitch lad up in final defence" , "Eleventh hour" , "Eleventh-hour" , "Final recourse" .)